Cushioning means



Jam 5, 3932. w. A. GOWER CUSHIONING MEANS 2 Sheet-Sheet Filed May 15,1950 lnveri frr: william 0 L 'Gawen Jan. 5, 1932. w. A. GOWER CUSHIONINGMEANS Filed May 15 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 wizzmm @q. fi'ower UNITEDSTATES rArEN WILLIAM GOWER, on MOLINE, ILLINOIS, Assmnoa re THE RAILROADsUrrrY- Patented Jan. 5, 1932 Fries COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ACORPORATION OF ILLINOIS l GUSHIONING MEANS Application filed May 15,

The present invention relates to cushioning means. .a V i The inventionhas been illustrated and will be described connection with cushioningmeans or shock absorbers for electrical relay mechanism. The presentinvention is particularly useful in connection with i such mechanism,though as the description proceeds it will be clear that the inventionhas a broader application. p

object of the present invention is to provide a cushioning means orshock absorber readily applicable to electrical relays such as are nowcommonly in service, or to other relatively delicate mechanism,

- A further object is v to provide reliable cushioning means which issimple and easy to install. 7

A further object is to .providecushioning means or shock absorbers whichmay be readily; clamped to devices already ,in service,

though-said devices should vary in size.

Further objects will appear asthe description proceeds. J i s Y 7Referringto the drawings Figure 1 represents a relay having shockabsorbing or cushioning means applied thereto,- which means embody theprinciples ofthe present invention;

. Figure 2 is a bottom plan view of the structure shown in Figure 1 7igure 3 is a side view, parts being broken'away, illustrating thestructure shown; in the preceding figures; and

Figures 4 and 5 are views in plan and side elevation, respectively,showing a modified embodiment of the present invention adapt able torelays or the like having round bases. 1 Referring first to Figures 1, 2and 3, the numeral 10 indicates a relay,.rthe-base of which is providedwithtwo parallel side edges, indicated by the numerals 1111. Saidrelayiisprovided with a pair of cushioning. means or shock absorbers,indicated by the numerals 12-12,- which members 12-:12

1930. serial No. 452,798.

are adapted to be clamped to said relay 10,

and 14 are provided with the jawpo rtion's 157-15 adapted to engageandoverlie the side edges 1111 of thebase portion of the relay 10. Themember 14 is provided with the slot 16, and the member 13 is providedwith a pair of tapped holes 1313 disposed prefer ablyr along thelongitudinal center line of said member 13. The numeral 17 indicatesa'setscrew threaded into one of said tapped holes; Said setscrew 17 incooperation with the washer 18 is adapted to clamp the members 13 and 14together. The other of said tapped holes in the member 13 isv providedwith the machine screw 19 adapted to extend through the member13asufiicient distance to engagethe bottom of the relay10,

A look nut 20 looks the machine screw l9 in adjusted position; It. willbe clear without detailed explanation that after the clamping members 13and 14 have been disposed in posit-ion upon the relay 10 and have beensecured together by means of the setscrew17, the machine screw 19 may beturned up to exert a clamping action a ainst the bottom of the relay 10for securing members 13 and 14 in clamping relationship with the relay10.

The members 13 and 14are provided with coil springs 2121 having the feet2222.- Saidcoilsprings 2121 may be secured to the members 13 and 14 byany preferredmeans. According to the illustrated embodiment of thepresent invention portions of said membe'rs13 and 14 are swedged outtoform- '0:

clips for, securing said springs 21-21.

Referring now to the structure illustrated in Figures a and 5,cushioning mechanism is illustrated adapted to be clamped to a relay orother device having a round base. The structure illustrated in Figures 4and 5 includes the members 13 and 1 1, similar to those described abovein connection with Figures 1, 2 and 3. A further sheet metal member isprovided, indicated by the numeral 23, which may be similar in size andshape to the member 13; or, if preferred, said member 23 may be providedwith an untapped hole of sufiicient size to take the machine screw 19.

- The members 13, -1tand 23 will be disposed with their jaws 15 15 inclamping relationship with the circular base of the relay or otherdevice, and the machine screw 19 (which is threaded into one of thetapped holes 13 of the member 13), in cooperation with the lock nut 20,will hold said members 13, 14 and 23 in rigid clamping relationship withits relay.

The present invention has the advantage that the shock absorber orcushioning means may be applied to relays or other devices which arealready in service, it being unnecessary to do any drilling or tappingon the relays or to disconnect said relays from their electric circuits.

Though certain preferred embodiments of the presentinvention have beendescribed in detail, many modifications will occur to' those skilled inthe art. It is intended to cover all such modifications that fall withinthe scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is 1. In combination, a member to be resilientlysupported, cushioning means for supporting said member, said cushioningmeans comprising a pair of fiat strips, said strips having jaws adaptedto engage and overlie side edge portions of said member, one of saidstrips being provided with a slot, the other of said strips beingprovided with a pair of tapped holes, a screw disposed within one ofsaid tapped holes andexteiiding through said slot whereby said stripsmay be rigidly secured together, and a second screw extending throughthe other of said tapped holes, said second screw being disposedintermediate of said jaws and adapted to engage said member to apply aclamping force to said jaws.

2. In combination, a member to be resiliently supported, cushioningmeans for supporting said member, said cushioning means including a pairof strips, each having aclamping jaw, said jaws being adapted to engageand overlie an edge portion of said member to exerta clamping'force inacommon plane, each of said strips having a cushioning means securedthereto, one of said strips being provided with a slot and the other ofsaid strips being provided with screw means extending through said slotfor securing said strips in ad usted relationship relative to oneanother, and means carried by one of said strips adapted to engage saidmember to apply a clamping force to said "jaws in a direction at rightangles to said plane.

3. In combination, a member to be resiliently supported, cushioningmeans for supporting said member, said cushioning means including a pairof strips adapted to lie-fiatwise upon one another, each of said stripsbeing provided with. a cushioning ineans'secured thereto and with aclamping jaw, said jaws being adapted to exert a clamping force in acommon plane and to.

engage. and overlie side portions of said member, means for adjustablysecuring said strips together, and screw means cooperating with saidstrips for exerting a force intermediate of said jaws against saidmember to be supported directionat right angles to said plane.

at. In combination, a member to be resiliently supported, cushioningmeans for supporting said member, said cushioning means comprising aplurality of flat strips, each having a clamping jaw at one of itsextremities, said jaws being'adapted to engage and overlie side portionsof said member, said strips being disposed flat-wise upon one anotherwhereby said jaws may exert a force in a common plane, one of saidstrips being provided with a pair of tapped holes, another of saidstrips beingprovided with a slot, and a pair of screws disposed withinsaid tapped, holes and extending "through said slot, one of said screwsbeing'adapted to engage with said member toapply a clamping force atright angles to said plane, each of said strips being provided withcushioning means.

5. In combination, a member to be resiliently supported, cushioningmeans for supporting said member, said cushioning means comprising aplurality of flat strips, each having a clamping jaw'at one of itsextremities, said jaws'being adapted to engage and overlie side portionsof said member, said strips being disposed flatwise upon one anotherwhereby said jaws may exert a force in a commonplane, means for holdingsaid strips in cooperative relationship with each other and withrsaidmember, one of said,

strips being provided with a tapped hole, and screw means extendingthrough said tapped hole and engaging'said member to be supported toexert a force at right angles tosaid plane. p I

6. In combination, a member'to be resiliently supported, cushioningfineans for supporting said member, said cushioning means comprising aplurality of flat strips,

each having a clamping aw at one of itsex-- ifs iio

another whereby said jaws may exert aiorce in a common plane, one ofsaid strips being provided with a tapped hole, screw means extendingthrough said tapped hole and engaging said member to be supported toexert a force at right angles to said plane, and means cooperating withsaid screw means for holding said strips in rigid relationship with oneanother.

Signed at Silvis, Illinois, this first day of May, 1930.

WILLIAM A. GOWER.

